PRESIDENT TINUBU COMMENDS NIGERIA'S ARMED FORCES FOR PROTECTING DEMOCRACY IN BENIN REPUBLIC. (PHOTO). #PRESS RELEASE
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has declared that Nigeria’s persistent challenges are not primarily due to flaws in the constitution but rather the actions of those responsible for implementing it. Speaking through a letter read at the National Summit on the Future of Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, Obasanjo emphasized the need for good governance and a focus on citizens’ welfare over constitutional amendments.
Addressing the summit’s chairman, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Obasanjo acknowledged that while Nigeria’s constitution may require amendments, its effectiveness hinges on the integrity of its operators. “A nation’s constitution must reflect the history, constituents, and aspirations of its people and be sacrosanct,” he stated. “However, from my experience, no constitution is perfect. The most critical issue is the operators of the constitution.”
Obasanjo warned that even a well-crafted constitution could be undermined by misuse or manipulation. He expressed greater concern about the conduct of those in power over the past decade and a half, accusing them of prioritizing “selfishness, self-centredness, corruption, impunity, and total disregard for the constitution, decency, morality, integrity, and honesty.”
He urged a shift in focus toward selecting capable and principled leaders, asserting that the right operators would drive necessary constitutional reforms to make every Nigerian a proud stakeholder in the nation. “No matter what changes are made to the constitution, if the operators remain unchanged, the welfare and well-being of Nigerians will continue to suffer,” Obasanjo concluded.
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